Watergrove Memory Assessment Service – PCRP 27

Placement Overview

Placement Title Watergrove Memory Assessment Service – PCRP 27
Trust
Your Placement Contact Brigitte Barnes – Send Email
Placement Contact’s Role Team Manager: Brigitte Barnes
Placement Address Birch Hill Hospital, Union Road, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 9QB
Placement City/Town: Rochdale
Placement Phone 01706 676240
Your University Contact: Shelly Allen – Send Email

About this placement

What is organised for students on commencement of placement?

Introduction to staff and environment. We are a friendly teamwho welcome students’ input.

Introduction (dependant on student’s level of previousexperience) to different causes of memory problems and the tools and skillsused to assess these.

What are the arrangements for mentors/assessors?

Steve Exton is thePractice Educational Lead.

All three qualified RMNs are also qualified mentors.Studentswill be allocated one of these as mentor and will have the opportunity to workwith all three.

Two of the mentors are also sign-off mentors.

What shift patterns are students allocated for learning?

Shift Notes:

Working hours are usually 9-5 with half an hour for lunch.

We do occasionally work outside these hours but studentswould not be expected to unless they wanted to.

What patient care situations are available in this placement?

Students will be able to observe assessments of people withmemory problems.

They will have the opportunity to observe how the doctorexplains the diagnosis and prognosis (this is dependant on the service user’spermission.)

They will observe the different roles of the members of theMulti Disciplinary Team.

Depending on the stage students are at in their training andon what they feel comfortable with,they may be able to undertake someassessments themselves

What nursing model is used for planning care?

Care is planned according to the NICE guidancefor treatment of people withdementia,rather than a nursing model.

What core clinical skills can be learnt?

Interpersonal skills.

Assessment.

History taking

Understandng of different types of dementia/memory problemsand their impact on peoples’ lives,including those of family/carers.

What additional clinical skills can be learnt?

Understanding of the roles of different teams in supportingpeople living with dementia and their family/carers.

What resources are available to help students learning?

Members of the Multi Disciplinary Team.

Books and articles.

Information leaflets.

Online information – The Alzheimer’s Society website can  be very useful and is a reliable source of information.

Spoke Placements

We are in the same building as and work closely with:

The MERIT team (Community mental health team for olderpeople).

HITS (Home Intensive Treatment Service)

The Outreach team (advice on the management of people withdementia who are in residential care)

Single Point Of Entry.

The Alzheimer’s Society dementia advisor.

Beech ward (inpatient service for older people with a rangeof mental health problems.)

Spoke placements can be arranged with any of these providedno disruption to the services they provide is involved and at theirconvenience.

Additional Information

Assessment,diagnosis and where possible treatment for peoplewith memory problems,the majority of whom are over 65.

Post diagnostic advice and support for service users and their carers.

We also have a clinical psychologist working with us on a parttime basis. Students may have the opportunity to observe some of the moredetailed and specific testing that she carries out.